Describes problems in score reporting with the True Score model, defines the Rasch measurement unit (the logit), reviews transformations of the logit metric, and provides examples of score reporting procedures. Uses dichotomous data from an examination taken by 126 Ph.D. students and polychotomous data from a self-efficacy assessment completed by…

Used confirmatory factor analysis to examine whether the two-factor solution to the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (E. Hart, M. Leary, and W. Rejeski, 1989) was meaningful. Results for 4 samples of data for college students, high school students, and athletes (n=1,053) from previous studies support the existence of a single substantive factor…

Re-examined the 13-year lifespan study of moral and evaluative reasoning conducted by C. Armon, who interviewed 23 females and 19 males ranging in age from 5 at first test time (1977) to 86 at the fourth interview (1989). Rasch analysis of Armon's data show that the measures used tap a single underlying dimension of reasoning. Discusses results…

Describes the source instrument, the database, and the experimental methodology that have been used in developing the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) profiles to allow the comparison of quality of life findings from a variety of cultural settings. Illustrates the precautions necessary in interpreting scores from different…

Assessed reading growth, gender effects, relative-age effects, and reading probe difficulty for reading using one linear scale, the Curriculum Based Measurement words-read-correctly scale, for 1,619 students in grades 2 through 7. Found reading growth at all ages, with decreasing growth with increasing grade level and consistent, although slight,…

Describes Rasch measurement procedures for equating multiple test forms or calibrating an item bank. The procedures entail: (1) selecting a data collection design; (2) estimating parameters; (3) transforming the parameters to a common scale; and (4) evaluating the quality of the linkage between the forms. (SLD)

Explored the dimensionality of responses to the Adult Behavior Checklist-Revised, a screening assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHA) in college students. Responses from 317 undergraduates were used, with 8 judges involved in standard setting. Findings show secondary variables that may have clinical implications. (SLD)

Studied five factors that can affect the equating of scores from two tests onto a common score scale through the simulation and equating of 4,860 item data sets. Findings indicate three statistically significant two-way interactions for common item length and test length, item difficulty standard deviation and item distribution type, and item…

Developed a questionnaire of 80 self-report items to measure student approaches to study in higher education, attempting to create a scale and study it with a Rasch measurement model. Results for 350 Australian college students supported the conceptual structure of the scale as involving studying attitudes and behaviors toward the identified five…

Extended conventional two-group differential item function (DIF) analysis for dichotomous items to factorial DIF analysis for polytomous items where multiple grouping factors with multiple groups in each are analyzed jointly. Simulation studies and analysis of a real data set with 1,924 subjects show the parameters of the proposed modeling can be…

Presents an overview of Rasch measurement models that begins with a conceptualization of continuous experiences often captured as discrete observations. Discusses the mathematical properties of the Rasch family of models that allow the transformation of discrete deterministic counts into continuous probabilistic abstractions. Also discusses six of…